Russia
prioritizes nuclear triad, hi-tech weaponry in future wars
MOSCOW,
August 1 (RIA Novosti) - The nuclear triad of ballistic missiles,
nuclear-powered submarines and strategic bombers will remain
the core of the Russian armed forces for the next two decades,
a draft military doctrine says.
The
document called "The new face of the Russian Armed Forces
until 2030" is still being developed by the General Staff
and will be ready, according to some military sources, by
the fall 2008.
The
first part of the doctrine is an assessment of Russia's geopolitical
role in the world and the variety of external global, regional
and local threats to its national security, including military
ones.
The
second part covers the development and restructuring of the
Russian armed forces with priority given to information technologies
and warfare, space technologies and even nanotechnologies.
The
draft document says the Russian armed forces will rely heavily
on high-precision conventional weaponry developed on the basis
of artificial intelligence and nanotechnologies.
Nanotechnologies
are already widely used in special alloys for armor, "stealth"
technologies and explosives, but Russian designers of new
weapons systems are planning to extend their application even
further - to create miniaturized and highly effective weapons
on the battlefield including remote-controlled aerial vehicles,
mini-submarines, mini-boats and robots.
At
the same time, Russia will continue to maintain a strong nuclear
potential as a reliable deterrent to potential threats. Russia's
nuclear arsenal currently totals about 4,147 warheads on 848
delivery vehicles.
Russia's
Strategic Missile Forces will continue the deployment of new
ballistic missile systems, the modernization of strategic
command-and-control networks and the development of enhanced
warheads and their delivery vehicles.
At
present, Russia deploys Topol-M (NATO reporting name SS-27)
ballistic missiles as the mainstay of its land-based component
of the nuclear triad. As of December 2007, Russia's SMF operated
48 silo-based and three mobile Topol-M missile systems.
The
country will put an average of three mobile and 3-4 silo-based
Topol-M ballistic missile systems into operation every year.
Russia
will also modernize and expand its fleet of strategic bombers
and create a national air-and-space defense network.
According
to various sources, the Russian Air Force currently deploys
141 Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers, 40 Tu-95MS Bear bombers, and
14 Tu-160 Blackjack planes.
Russia
plans to build at least one new Tu-160 bomber every one or
two years to increase the number of available aircraft to
30.
According
to the new doctrine, the Russian Navy will prioritize the
deployment of fourth-generation nuclear-powered submarines
and aircraft-carrier task groups.
Russia
will completely modernize the naval component of its nuclear
triad by 2016.
Fourth-generation
Borey-class nuclear-powered submarines armed with Bulava ballistic
missiles will form the core of Russia's fleet of modern strategic
submarines.
Aircraft-carrier
task groups will consist of an aircraft carrier, escort ships
and support vessels.
"Three
task groups will be in service with the Northern Fleet and
another three with the Pacific Fleet," a defense ministry
source said.
Russia
is gradually shifting the focus of its geopolitical interests
toward the Arctic and will increase its military presence
in the region.
The
Defense Ministry has already announced plans to expand the
presence of the Russian Navy in the world's oceans, including
the Arctic, and extend the operational range of submarines
deployed in the northern latitudes.
Prabuddha
Bharata>>>
Vedanta
Kesari>>>
Vedanta
Mass Media>>>
|